Taft claims title as captain Kensie pours in 21 points

Toreadors hang on late with stout defense and clutch free throws against pesky Lions.

Souljah Niles leaped as high as he could to contest a last-second three-pointer from well beyond the arc by Fairfax guard Darius Carr and the shot fell short, giving Woodland Hills Taft a 64-62 victory in the City Section Open Division championship game Saturday night at Pasadena City College.

Alexander Bothast calmly swished the first of two free throws with 6.6 seconds left for the fourthseeded Toreadors, but he missed his second shot, Carr got the rebound and was immediately fouled. He made his first foul shot to cut the Lions’ deficit to two points and after his second try hit the rim, officials ruled it was last touched by Taft, giving Fairfax a chance to win with 3.4 seconds left.

Romello McRae inbounded to Carr, who launched a fadeaway shot that was short of the mark and Toreadors players poured off their bench.

Taft captured its fourth City Section boys’ basketball championship under coach Derrick Taylor, the first since he returned to his alma mater in 2015, and its sixth overall.

Senior guard Donald Bluitt III led the Lions with 26 points, including a threepointer at the halftime buzzer that pulled thirdseeded Fairfax within 33-32. Carr, a midseason transfer from Playa Del Rey St. Bernard, added 23 points.

Fairfax scored the first eight points of the third quarter, but Taft responded with a 15-4 run and built a 5548 lead with four minutes left.

Senior forward and captain Keyon Kensie Jr., a transfer from Simi Valley Donda Academy, led the way for the Toreadors with 21 points, three shy of his season average, and Adam Grissom added 11.

“This ring is for Coach Taylor,” Grissom said afterwards, immersed in a sea of fans. “We did this for him.”

Taylor picked up win No. 503 in his 19th season (two stints) at his alma mater. In his first go-around from 2000-11, he coached Jordan Farmar and Larry Drew to titles. He took over the program again in 2015 after piloting Bellflower St. John Bosco to the Division III state title in 2014.

“What made the difference was rebounding and our team defense,” Grissom said. “We just had to get stops and execute our plays.”

For the second year in a row, Van Nuys Grant won the City Section Division I boys’ title, defeating Venice 63-53 behind 29 points from senior forward Dashaun Gains and 12 by senior guard Byron Mendez. Tyler Hunt had 20 for Venice.